EB: Dear Jennifer:You’ve been contributing to WomenandBiz.com since March 2007, when we published our 6thissue. We truly appreciate your expert contribution. Through your articles, our readers came to learn a lot about internet marketing, social media, website design and content and just a little bit about yourself and your own experience. I thought it would be interesting to also learn more about how you got started, the challenges you faced and overcame, and your successes. Would you share your journey with our readers?
Jennifer Shaheen
Could you tell us about yourself before becoming an entrepreneur?
Jennifer: I think I have always been an entrepreneur at least that is what my family tells me. I grew up in Providence, RI and as a kid I was always coming up with crazy business ideas. One idea was a yardsale that had a friend of mine dressed like the Easter Bunny for neighborhood kids to take pictures with. Even then I was looking for a hook to get people to stop and shop.
EB: What was your education and professional experience? Were they helpful to starting your business?
Jennifer: My journey is a bit different, I started my 3rd business my junior year of college. That’s the business I have today. My first two businesses were launches and failures out of the gate because I didn’t understand the importance of planning and relationships. My third attempt was different – I used the professors in my business school at Hofstra University as an advisory board. They allowed me the flexibility to learn and really use what was being taught in class as value for planning my business. The answer is yes my education and professional experience was very helpful.
EB: When did you establish your business? Jennifer: August 1997
EB: What were your goals when you started your business?
Jennifer: My initial idea was to launch a multi-media company, but I decide to focus on the web because it seemed to be more me. My vision was to grow into a full-service company that helped small businesses utilize technology as a tool for productivity and marketing. Have they changed in any way? How? My vision has shifted – I am focused on the same market but offering more services.
EB: How did any outside advisors make a difference in your company?
Jennifer: Jennifer Kushell was the first catalyst for me and from there getting involved with networking groups with businesses that were more established than my own played a big part in where I am today. Going to these round tables and soaking up their knowledge and advice was the best education ever.
Tell us about The Technology Therapy Group and the products and services it provides.
Jennifer: The Technology Therapy Group is a full service web design, development and marketing firm. We call it therapy because whether you’re launching a small website, an online community or an ecommerce store you need a firm that can take you through each step. Prepare you for all the questions you don’t even know to ask and the future you didn’t know was possible.
EB: What do you find most rewarding as an entrepreneur?
Jennifer: This is my favorite part. Connecting, sharing and having a passion for my business.
EB: What advice would you give an aspiring entrepreneur?
Jennifer: I have 3 tips. One, don’t alienate yourself – passion comes from outside sources and whether you’re a solopreneur or head of a staff of 100 you need to get out and meet people. I find more ideas and rejuvenation in decisions when I’m out with clients and other entrepreneurs. Secondly, you never stop learning. Every week I make time to catch-up on trends and changes between technology and marketing today there is so much to learn. Third, growing means change, but hold on to the quality you wanted from day one. If you have to take a step back to go forward do it.
EB: This issue of WomenandBiz.com’s theme is “Business Check Up”. Could you tell us if you do business checkups regularly, and what are the most important areas you check?
Jennifer: Actually we’re going through one now. We’re doing a check on quality control, staff productivity, client communication, internal communication and marketing effectiveness. We’re finding our issues and we’ll work through them, but the economy has played a role in this check-up. Client’s are in need of more support than before and it is effecting how we run our business. We are evaluating new policies that will impact our growth and I have to share that it is not an easy process.
EB: What are your plans for the future?
Jennifer: My plan for 2009 is to launch a second business. The company is called Twin Goat Media and we are focusing our efforts on viral and social media through online video content. We started our first campaign with Technology Therapy Group by creating a weekly show called News & Notes from the coach. Each week we take a popular question and answer it with video and animation.
For more information about Jennifer Shaheen and The Technology Therapy Group, please visit www.technologytherapy.com.